Feb 21 Sunday
Supported by KNKX. Celebrate with Louisiana's boldest and brassiest bands: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas!
2027 marks 50 years since their founding in 1977, the New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has incorporated the traditional foundation of brass band music into a blend of genres, including bebop, jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, and soul. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band took their gumbo of modern brass band music from the streets of New Orleans to the world, playing nearly every continent since then, from that joint on the corner to iconic theaters, to festival stages around the world. They have been featured guests both in the studio and on stage with artists including Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Widespread Panic, Modest Mouse, Dave Matthews Band, The Black Crowes and many others.
Now, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world-famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.
Nathan formed The Cha-Chas in 1985, and since then, he has brought his unique take on this regional South Louisiana music to all corners of the globe. From Lincoln Center in New York City to The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, Nathan's music has crossed all barriers to speak to the very heart of his audience. Keepers of the Zydeco Flame, Nathan, and The Cha-Chas are committed to keeping their Creole Heritage alive.
The music of Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas is the expression of a remarkable South Louisiana family, including Dennis Paul Williams, Nathan's brother who brings his jazz-influenced guitar chops to the band, and Sid 'El Sid O' Williams, a Lafayette legend unto himself, without whom Zydeco would never have survived into the new millennium.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
Celebrating 25 years of Halo, MOPOP’s Halo: The Great Journey artifact spotlight features rare objects from across the franchise history. Explore iconic armor and gear, original artwork, collectibles, and gaming hardware—including Master Chief John-117, Atriox, Covenant and UNSC weaponry, and limited-edition XBOX consoles. Take a closer look at the characters, designs, and fan culture that have made Halo one of gaming’s most legendary worlds. On view beginning October 14, 2026.
Honor Black History Month with an afternoon of film and music that lifts up the artistry, innovation, and enduring legacy of early Black performers. This special program features a rare screening of The Flying Ace (1926), a thrilling aviation drama from the era of “race films” – independent productions created for Black audiences during a time of segregation in the American film industry. Set against the backdrop of a small-town airfield, the story follows a heroic pilot as he navigates mystery, romance, and high-flying adventure, offering a fascinating glimpse into a vital and often overlooked chapter of cinema history.
Complementing the film is a live organ performance celebrating the music of Fats Waller, one of the most influential and joyful voices of early jazz. Known for his stride piano brilliance, infectious rhythms, and larger-than-life personality, Waller helped define the sound of a generation.
Acclaimed silent film organist Dennis James brings the evening to life with a dynamic live score on our 1924 Andy Crow Wurlitzer Organ. Together, film and music create an entertaining and educational tribute to Black creativity and resilience, where history, culture, and artistry take flight.
The Queen of Crime returns. Ten strangers are summoned to a remote island. They have nothing in common but a wicked past they’re desperate to hide and a secret that will seal their fate… for each has been marked for murder. As the weather turns and the group is cut off from the mainland, the bloodbath begins. One by one, they are brutally murdered in accordance with the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme. Can they discover who among them is the killer before there’s no one left?
Agatha Christie’s own heart-pounding adaptation of her most famous book – the world’s #1 best-selling mystery novel – is a masterpiece of dramatic construction, a dark and suspenseful tale that will keep you guessing until the shocking end.
Feb 22 Monday
Styled by the Streets: Black Women in Hip-Hop Fashion explores how Black women transform Hip-Hop fashion into a cultural and political force, transcending the boundaries of music to influence global style, self-expression, and identity. From streetwear to couture, hair to jewelry, and iconic photography, the exhibition showcases style as a powerful expression of Black womanhood across 30 unique artifacts. Layered in late 1990s and early 2000s denim, holographic finishes, and Y2K palettes, the gallery highlights the artists and cultural creators who bring these iconic looks to life—centering the women visionaries whose creativity reshapes Black and Hip-Hop communities through storytelling, authorship, and legacy.
